Trimming machine



Sept. 27, 1966 w. B. MOcAlN ETAL 3,275,118

TRIMMING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April l5, 1965 KZ ont@ e .tCudm .UAUCRWMO HHMWMT. MKM. moK. am W. -wR

w. B. MGcAlN ETAL 3,275,118

Sept. 27, 196s TRIMMING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April l5, 1965 Inventors william. B. MC Can. Rcumond l. Balkan. 3g, .H-l-korrzegs United States Patent O M 3,275,118 TRIMMING MACHINE William B. McCain, Hinsdale, and Raymond I. Bulka,

Oak Lawn, lll., assignors to Chicago Machinery Laboratory, Inc., Chicago, lli., a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 448,347 1t) Claims. (Cl. 19E- 19) This invention relates to a trimming machine 'for pamphlets, magazines, signatures or the like, usually of the signature type, and more particularly to a trimming machine wherein a continuously moving conveyor means is employed to move the magazines or signatures to and from a trimming station in the trimming machine.

In trimming machines, one or more signatures are moved, While in a stacked position, between various cutting or trimming stations where knives -trim the edge portions of the signatures and thereby conform the signatures to the proper size. Preferably, for speed of delivery and assurance of delivery, the sta-ck of signa-tures are fed positively by a set of pusher fingers or the like which positively engage and move the signatures along the bed of the trimming machine. Also, timing and speed of operation of the trimming machine is often facilitated by employing continuously moving pusher lingers which are selectively enabled and disabled lat different positions to deliver and to deposit the signatures at trimming stations.

An object of the present invention is the moving of signamres to and from a trimming station under the controlof pushing lingers which are continually moving and which are positively and selectively rotated to and from operative signature moving positions by a cam device.

According to a more specific object of the invention, a continuous cam device has a lirst portion effectiveto raise selectively one set of pusher lingers to an operative signature engagi-ng position While holding a succeeding setof pushing lingers in an inoperative position and a second portion effective to hold the lirst pusher lingers in an inoperative position While holding the second pusher lingers in an operative position. According to a further object of the invention, the pusher fingers are rotatably mounted on an endless band and have their respec-tive Icam `follower portions disposed in different locations on their respective lingers rso that the same portion of a cam device can selectively render some of the pusher lingers operative, and other of the lingers inoperative, as the ngers pass through the same portion of the cam device.

'With a positive drive for the signatures, there is a possibility that, if the signatures become clog-ged or stopped Within the trimming machine, the positive driving mechanism will jam or even become damaged in attempting to move the signatures. According to a further objectV of the invent-ion, the respective pusher fingers have a plurality of spring metal leaves which constitute signature engaging lingers capable of being bent to pass under the signatures without breakingthe pusher lingers or some -other portion of the drive mechanism when the signatures fail to move.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the trimming machine has an endless chain on which are rotatably mounted a series of alternative, spaced pusher lingers. The lirst ones of the pushing lingers are operative to move signatures to the trimming station and to pivot to an inoperative position at the trimming station, under control of a continuous cam means, while the 4following second pusher lingers are pivoted from an inoperative position to an operative signature engaging position by the continuous cam means for the purpose of moving the books from the trimming station.

3,275,118 Patented Sept. 27, 1966 Other and further objects of the prese-nt invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principle thereof and what is now considered to be the best mode contemplated for applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a trimming machine employing a continuous cam track for selectively controlling the positions of lirst and second pusher lingers according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a second pusher linger in an operative position to move a signature from the trimming machine;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of a lirst pusher linger;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional View of the mounting of the lirst pusher finger;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevational view of a second pusher linger;

FIG. 6 is a sectional View of the rotatable mounting of the second pusher linger; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a pivot pin on a chain for mounting a pusher linger.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is diagrammatically illustrated a so'called three-knife trimming machine 1t? having a front knife 1'1 for trimming the front edge -of a pair of signatures 12 stacked one upon another. A conveying means (not shown) moves the stack of signatures 12 from the front knife 11 to a position .on the bed of the machine above the sprocket 14 where a lirst pusher lug 15 becomes operative to move the signatures 12 rightwardly, as viewed in FIG. 1, to a position for trimming by a head knife 18 at a trimming station 20. Y

The front knife 11 trims the signature transversely of the path of travel of the signatures 12, whereas the head knife 18 trims the head of the signature along an edge longitudinally disposed in the direction of signature travel. While not shown, it is to be understood that the trimming .machine also employs a so-called bottom trimming knife disposed parallel t-o the head knife 18 :for simultaneous operation with the head -knife 18 to trim the bottom of the signature to the proper size so that the signatures are trimmed on three sides, when leaving the trimming station 20, at which the head knife and bottom knife are operative.

The folded portion or yso-called backbone of the signature 21 is disposed forwardly in the direction of the -signature travel, indicated by the directional arrows DA in FIGS. l and 2. The backbone 21 is the only edge of the four edges lof the -signature which is not trimmed.

The first pusher lug 15 is rotatably mounted on a continuously moving chain 2S, which constitutes an endless band extending about the sprocket 14 at the front knife end of the machine to a sprocket 28 disposed at the delivery end of the machine. Disposed adjacent the chain 25 is a rectangular cam plate 29 which is provided with a continuous cam groove 30.

Preferably there i-s provided a pair of spaced chains 25 and cam plates 29 with cam grooves 30 for the sets of spaced pusher fingers 15.' Thus, it is preferred that there be a pair -of identical lingers 15 aligned with each other so that a pair of pusher lingers simultaneously engage a signature. inasmuch as the chains 25 and pusher lingers are identical, only one chain and its pusher lfingers are disclosed lfor purposes of description.

Pivotally -mounted on lthe chain 25 are a plurality of second pusher lugs 35 which are effective to remove the signatures from the trimming station 20 after a trimming operation. The chain 25 carries a plurality of alternately spaced first pusher lfingers and second pusher fingers 35 with the second pusher fingers trailing the firstV pusher fingers.

Thus, as seen in FIG. 1, the first set of pusher fingers 15 are operable to move a stack of signatures to the trimming station and the second pusher fingers 35 are adapted to move a stack of signatures 12 from the trimming station 20. After depositing the stack of si-gnatures 12 under the knife 18, the set of first pusher fingers 15 are cammed downwardly to the dotted line position of FIG. 1, wherein .signature engaging elements or portions 38 on the pusher fingers 15 are disposed beneath the level of the stack of signatures 12 now 4being trimmed by the knife 18.`

The first pusher linger 15 is in anoperative signatureengaging position with its fingers 38 disposed above the level lof the bed 13 when its cam follower 39 is in engagement with a first portion 42 of the ca-m groove 30, which,

as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 is disposed in a plane above the plane of the upper -run of the chain 25. However,as the chain 15 moves into the trimming station, the cam track 30 has a medially curved portion 44 inter-connecting the'first cam track portion 42 above the plane of the chain toa terminal cam track portion 45 disposed beneath the plane of the upper run of the chain 25.

Thus, it will be seen in FIG. 1 that as the cam follower 39`xof a first pusher finger 15 moves through the medially curved cam portion 44, its signature engaging finger 38 is rotated downwardly and ina counterclockwise direction about the pivotal connection of the first pusher. finger 15 with the chain 25 until'the terminal portion 45 of the cam groove is reached wherein the first pusher finger is in the dotted line position' of FIG. .1, that is, with its finger 38 in an inoperative position.` Y

Conversely, as will be seen in FIG. 2, the second pusher finger is rotated to have its signature engaging finger 48 positioned in an inoperative position 'beneath the bed 13 :of the trimming machine and the stack of signatures-12, FIG. 2, when itscam follower 50 is disposed in the first portion 42 of the cam groove 30.

As the cam follower 50 of the second finger 35 moves into the medial curved cam portion 44, the second finger 35 is rotated in a clockwise direction aboutV its pivotal connection 51 with the chain 25 and thus rotates its signature engaging finger 48 upwardly int-o the position shown in FIG.' 2 at the trimming station 20 to engage the front edge of the signatures 12. VThe second pusher fingers 35 same plane as Vthe lower run of the chain 25. E As seen in FIG. 1,1the first and second pusherfingers 15 and 35 are guided alongthe return run iby the continuous cam 30.

V Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown in greaterdetail the first finger pusher 15, which has a compl x-shaped body. 70 with a first aperture 71 disposed yforwa dly of theV finger 38 to receive a pivot pin 72 carried by a connecting link 73 of the chain 25.A As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 7, the connecting link 73 is secured to the chain links of the chain 25 by pins 74, FIG. 7. Y

Each of the cam followers 39 of the first pusher fingers 15 is rotatably journaled on a pin 75 seated in an upwardly extending arm 78 of the complex body 70 of its pusher finger 15 so as to be disposed above its respective connecting link 73, and-the plane of the chain 25. As best seen in FIG. 4, the cam follower 39 is disposed on the opposite 'side of the pusher finger 15 from the chain 25, and there 1s a slight clearance between the body 70 of the .first pusher finger 15 and the cam plate29 in which is disposed the cam groove 30. The chain 25 is guided and supported in a conventional fashion throughout its length so as to hold the fingers 15 and` 35`relatively stable during their movements.

As best seen in FIGS.; 5 and 6, the second pusher finger 35 also has a complex-shaped lbody with an aperture 80 disposed forwardly of its finger 48 for receiving the pivot pin 72 of a connecting link 73. However, when thesecond pusher finger' A35 is disposed with its finger 38 in a verticalv position, its cam` follower 50 is disposed in a plane beneath the chain25 and the connecting link 73, as seen in FIGS.'5 and 6. v Y y. Y

The cam follower 50 is journaled on a pivot pin y82 secured inran aperture 83 in an obliquely downwardly and forwardly extending portion 84, of pusher finger 35.` Y It should benoted that the cam follower'50" of the second pusher finger 35 is not only disposed `downwardly of the .pivotV pin 72, but also is disposed forwardly of the pivot pin 72 and finger` 48 rather than rearwardly of the pivot pin 72, as is the camV follower 39 of the first push finger 15. The position of the cam followersV 39 and 50 with respect to its respective pivotalconnection withthe chain 25 makes it possible Afor one push to, have its finger in an operative position and the other pusher to have its finger down while traversing the same portion to the cam track 30.

For the purpose of receiving the respective signature engaging fingers 38 `and 48, each of the push fingers l15 and 35 has a downwardly extending rectangular-.slot 85 in which yare positioned and secured a plurality` of leaves of spring metal which constitute a leaf-spring for each of the. signature fingers 38 or 48. While the fingers38 'and 48 may be made of a one-piece solid bar, it is preferred to have the fingers 38 and48`formed from bend- Y able leaves of spring metal so that in case thesignatures become jammed in-the `machine due to some `malfunction, the leaf springs may `bend rearwardly and `downwardly without .causing a breaking of the driving chain 25 or the pusher fingers 15 or 35.

Recaptulating the operation'ofthetrimrning machine, it will be seen that the stack of signatures 12 are delivered to and from the trimming station 20 bythe pusher fingers 15 and 35. When the signatureV stack 12 ,is positioned over the sprocket 14, FIG. 2, and-when a pusher finger 35 in the second set is moving around the sprocket 14, the

second pusher finger 35 is held in its ineffective position,

FIG. 2, 'by the firstl portion 42 of the cam groove 30.

Thus, thefsignatures` 12 remain stationary untilthe fol-V p 39 is cammed downwardly by the curvedportion 44 of the cam track 30 tothe dotted linepositiori shown in' FIG. .1 wherein its finger 38 :is rotated to an ineffective position 'beneath the plane of ythe bed k13.` The terminal. portion 45 of the cam track 30 holds `the first pusher-finger 1n this inoperative position as ^thechain'25 continues to travel. Y g

Thus, the signatures 12 are, deposited at thetrimming station 20 by the pushers 15, and the signatures are registened-prior to being trimmed by the head and bottom knives. 'As the signatures are being trimmed, the `chain 25 is moving a second set of pusher ngers 35 toward the trimming station 20.

After a trimming operation is completed, this second pusher finger 35 brings its` cam follower 50 in the medial portion 44 of the cam track 30 and is rotated to a operaltive position `wherein its finger 48 extends upwardly above the conveying bed 13 to engage the signatures 12 to move the newly-trimmed, signatures from the trimming station 20. The terminal portion 45 of the carn groove 30 holds 3 the second pusher fingers 35 in this operative position to deliver the signatures 12 from the trimming station 20.

From the foregoing, it will -be seen that the present invention employs a continuous operable chain or band 25 on which are mounted spaced pusher fingers 15 and 35 which are selectively rendered operative and inoperative by continuous cam track which affords a positive positioning of the pusher fingers.

Also, it will -be seen that a single continuous cam track is provided with a first portion in one plane, and with a second portion in another plane so that as the cam followers of the first and second pusher fingers are moved through these different planes they are rotated to and from operative and inoperative positions. The cam followers on the pusher fingers are also disposed in different positions with respect to their respective pivotal connections to the chain 25 so that the same portion of a cam track causes one pusher finger to be in an operative position and the other pusher fingers to be in an inoperative position.

Hence, while preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification.

We claim: v

1. In a signature machine having an operating station to which signatures are delivered prior to being operated upon and from which said signatures are removed after being operated thereupon; a continuous cam means having a first cam portion extending from a first location to said operating station, a medial cam portion at said operating station and a terminal cam portion extending from said medial cam portion at said operating station to a second location; an endless band; a first and a second driving finger rotatably mounted on said endless band at spaced locations; a cam following portion on the first of said driving fingers engaging said first cam portion of said cam means and for holding said first driving finger 1n an operative position to engage a signature and to push the signature to said operating station, said medial cam portion of said continuous cam means adapted to force said first finger to rotate to an ineffective position and said terminal cam portion of said cam means holding said first finger in said ineffective position, and a cam following Iportion on said second finger to hold said second finger 1n ineffective position along said first portion of said cam means, said medial portion of said cam means forcing said second finger to rotate to an operative position to engage a signature and to push said signature from said operating station, said terminal portion of said cam means holding said second driving finger in an operative position to move said signatures.

2. In a signature machine having an operating station to which signatures are delivered prior to being operated rupon and from which said signatures are removed after lbeing operated thereupon, an endless band movable in a first plane; a continuous cam means having a first cam portion in a plane disposed on one side of said endless band, said first cam portion extending from a first location to said operating station, a medial cam portion at said operating station and .a terminal cam portion extending from said operating station to a second location and disposed in a different plane than the plane of said first cam portion; first and second driving fingers rotatably mounted on said endless band at spaced locations, a cam following portion on the first iof said driving fingers engaging said first cam portion of said cam means to hold the first ldriving finger in an operative position to engage a signature and push said signature to `said operating station, said medial portion of said continuous cam means being adapted to force the first of said `driving fingers to rotate to -an ineffective position and said terminal portion of said cam means holding the first of said fingers in said ineffective position, and a cam following portion on the second of said driving fingers to engage said first cam portion of said cam means and holding the second of said fingers in an ineffective position, said medial portion of said cam means forcing the second of said fingers to rotate to an operative position to engage a signature and to push said signature from said operating station, said terminal portion of said cam means holding the second of said driving fingers in an operative position to move said signatures.

3. The signature machine of claim 2 wherein said continuous cam means includes an internal cam groove and wherein each of said cam following portions includes a roller disposed in said cam groove.

4. IIn a signature machine having an operating station to which signatures are delivered prior to being operated upon and from which said signatures are removed after being operated thereupon, an endless band movable in a first plane; cam means having a first cam portion extending from a first location to said operating station, -a Vmedial cam portion continuous with said first cam portion, .and a terminal portion extending from said medial cam portion 4to a second location, said first and second portions being disposed in different planes; first and second driving finger means adapted to engage and push said signatures; pin means rotatably mounting said first finger means and said second finger means on said endless band at spaced locations; a cam following portion on said first driving finger means disposed rearwardly of said pin means for said first finger means, said cam following portion engaging said first portion of said cam means and holding its finger means in an operative position to engage a signature and to push said signature to said operating station, said medial portion of said cam means adapted to force said first finger means to rotate to an ineffective position and said terminal portion of said ca m means holding said first finger means in said ineective position, and a cam following portion on said second finger means disposed forwardly of said pin means and adapted to hold said second finger means in ineffective position as said cam following portion on the second finger means engages said first .portion of said cam means, said medial portion of said cam means forcing said second finger means to rotate to an operative position to engage a signature and to push said signature from said operating station, said terminal portion of said cam means holding said second driving finger means in an operative position to move said signatures.

5. The signature machine of claim 4 wherein said first and second finger means includes a plurality of leaf springs for engaging and pushing signatures.

6. The signature machine of claim 4 wherein a signat-ure engaging portion of said first finger means is disposed between said pin means and its associated cam follower portion and a signature engaging portion of said second finger means is disposed rearwardly of said pin means and its associated cam yfollower portion.

7. In a signature machine having an operating station to which signatures are delivered prior to being operated upon and from which said signatures are removed after being operated thereupon, an endless band movable in a first plane; first and second finger means rotatably secured at spaced locations to said endless band and adapted to engage and move said signatures; a continuous internal cam groove means having an upper portion for controlling the selective positioning of said first and sec-ond finger means and having a lower return portion for guiding said finger means on their return travel, said cam track having a first portion disposed above the plane of said endless band, a medial portion curving downwardly from said first portion, and a terminal portion disposed in a plane below said first portion and joined to said medial portion; pin means rotatably mounting each of said first finger means and said second finger means on said endless band at spaced locations; a cam following porti-on on said yfirst finger means disposed rearward of said pin means for each of said first finger means, saidl cam following portion engaging said first portion of said cam 7. means and being effective therewith to raise said rst finger means t-o an operative position to engagea signature and to push said signature to said operating station, said medial portion of said `continuouscam means adapted to force said first nger means to rotate to an ineffective position and said terminal portion of said cam means holding said first nger means in said ineffective position, and a cam following portion on said second iinger means disposed forwardly of said second linger. pin means and adapted 4to hold said second nger means in an ineffective position as said camfollowing portion thereof engages said rst portion of said cam means, said medial portion of saidY cam means forcing .said second finger means to rotate to an operative position to engage a signature and to push said signature from said operating station, said terminal portion of said cam means holding `said second finger means in an operative position to move said signatures.

8. The signature machine of claim 7, whereinsaid pin means for said rst linger means is disposed downf wardly and forwardly of its cam following portion when in an operative position and said pin means for said second finger means is disposed upwardly and rearwardly of its cam following means when said second finger means is in an operative position.

9. In a signature machine having an operating station for signature delivered thereto, an endless chain having upper and'lower runs; a supporting bed for said signatures; first and second finger means rotatably secured at spaced locations to said chain and adapted to engage and move said signatures; a cam means including a groove, said groove including an upper groove portion disposed in a first plane and associated with the upper run of said chain, a medial groove portion at said operating station joining said upper groove portion, and a terminal groove ing means is disposed in said terminal groove of said cam means; signature engaging means on said rst finger means being disposed between its pivot means andfits cam following means'toextend above said bed when said cam following meansof said tirst finger means is disposed Vin said upper groove of said cam means; and Y signature engaging means on said second finger means being disposed rearwardly of its pivot means and adapted to extend upwardly of said bed when said cam following means of said second finger means is disposed in said terminal groove of said cam means.

10. In the signature machine of claim 9, wherein said signature engaging means of said rst and second finger means includes a benda'ble spring metal leaf capable of being exed when saidsignaturesfail to move under the urging of said first and second said finger means.

n References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,116,406 11/1914 Fleischer 198-19 2,780,342 2/1957 EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

rGood 198--170 

1. IN A SIGNATURE MACHINE HAVING AN OPERATING STATION TO WHICH SIGNATURE ARE DELIVERED PRIOR TO BEING OPERATED UPON AND FROM WHICH SAID SIGNATURE ARE REMOVED AFTER BEING OPERATED THEREUPON; A CONTINUOUS CAM MEANS HAVING A FIRST CAM PORTION EXTENDING FROM A FIRST LOCATION TO SAID OPENING STATION, A MEDIAL CAM PORTION AT SAID OPERATING STATION AND A TERMINAL CAM PORTION EXTENDING FROM SAID MEDIAL CAM PORTIN AT SAID OPERATING STATION TO A SECOND LOCATION; AN ENDLESS BAND; A FIRST AND A SECOND DRIVING FINGER ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID ENDLESS BAND AT SPACED LOCATIONS; A CAM FOLLOWING PORTION ON THE FIRST OF SAID DRIVING FINGERS ENGAGING SAID FIRST CAM PORTION OF SAID CAM MEANS AND FOR HOLDING SAID FIRST DRIVING FINGER IN AN OPERATIVE POSTION TO ENGAGE A SIGNATURE AND TO PUSH THE SIGNATURE TO SAID OPERATION STATION, SAID MEDIAL CAM PORTION OF SAID CONTINUOUS CAM MEANS ADAPTED TO FORCE SAID FIRST FINGER TO ROTATE TO AN INEFFECTIVE POSITION AND SAID TERMINAL CAM PORTION OF SAID CAM MEANS HOLDING SAID FIRST 